Melvin F. Beneda, 87, of Holton formerly of Denver, CO, died Friday, April 23, 2010 at the Holton Community Hospital. He was born September 17, 1922 in Almena, KS, the son of James and Mata Jorgensen Beneda, Jr. He attended Lone Star Country School and graduated from Decatur County High School in 1940.
He owned Chaffee Park Standard in Denver and later worked at Mountain Bell and retired in 1984. He was a member of Liberty Lodge #134 A.F. & A.M. and Temples #96 O.E.S. both in Denver. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Holton. He served in the Army Air Corp during World War II. He was stationed at Walker Air Base in Walker, KS and later served in the China-Burma-India Theater. He was a Staff Sergeant and crew chief on a B-29.
Melvin married Avis L. Armstrong on December 28, 1941 in Oberlin, KS. She survives. He is also survived by his daughters, Judith A. and Don Swisher of Holton; Janette I. and Bill Smitham of Denver, CO; Janell M. and Niles Riese of Grand Rapids, MI; and Jerrilee S. and Gerry Bender of Inola, OK; grandchildren, Danette Sampson, Dena Swisher, Debra Luther, Will Smitham and Madison Beneda-Bender; great-grandchildren, Taylor Harned, Tyler D'Ovidio, Dillon Harned, Sophie Luther and Charlotte Luther. Melvin was preceded in death by a sister, Alene Beneda.
Graveside services will be at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at Oberlin Cemetery in Oberlin, KS. The family will greet friends from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Sunday evening April 25, 2010 at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Memorials may be given to the Melvin F. Beneda Memorial Fund to be designated later, sent c/o Mercer Funeral Home, PO Box 270, Holton, KS 66436.